From Cathy Wong,
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What is Alexander Technique?

Alexander Technique is a type of movement re-education therapy to improve posture. The goal is to learn to stand and move properly to minimize strain on the body and alleviate muscle tension and aches caused by poor posture.

This technique was developed by Frederick Matthias Alexander, an Australian Shakespearean actor. While performing, Alexander's voice became strained. He observed himself in the mirror and noticed habitual movements, postures, and patterns of breathing that once corrected, improved the quality of his voice.

It involves relearning basic movements, such as standing and sitting, and correcting patterns of misuse, such as the way you hold your head.

Conditions Treated

• Poor posture
  
• Stress and stress-related conditions
  
• Anxiety and depression
  
• Repetitive strain injuries
  
• Performance enhancement in dancers, singers, musicians
  

What a Typical Treatment is Like

A typical session is 30 to 45 minutes long. The usual course of treatments is 15 to 30 classes, depending on how you progress and the amount of practice you do in between treatments.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your session. The practitioner often asks the client to lie on a table with knees bent. The practitioner then makes adjustments to the client's posture before asking him or her to stand.

The remainder of the treatment is done standing. The practitioner adjusts and modifies the client's posture so that muscles move with "minimum effort and maximum efficiency". The client is given instructions on how to move to prevent old habits and teach new movements and postures.